The Role of Alcohol Policies in Preventing Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of the Literature

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Stud Alcohol Drugs
• Personal Author:
  Kearns, Megan C. ; Reidy, Dennis E. ; Valle, Linda Anne
• Description:
  Objective
  
  This article summarizes existing research on the relationship between alcohol policies and intimate partner violence (IPV). Because alcohol represents an important risk factor for IPV, interventions and policies aimed at decreasing problem drinking may also lead to reductions in IPV.
  
  Method
  
  Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles on alcohol policies and IPV, as well as reference sections of appropriate articles. Only policies that have been studied specifically for impact on IPV were included.
  
  Results
  
  Three alcohol policy areas (outlet density, hours and days of sale, pricing/taxation) had been studied in relation to IPV outcomes. Research on outlet density had the most consistent findings, with most studies indicating that higher densities of alcohol outlets are associated with higher rates of IPV. Fewer studies had been conducted on pricing policies and policies restricting hours/days of sale, with most studies suggesting no impact on IPV rates.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Higher density of alcohol outlets appears to be associated with greater rates of IPV. However, there is limited evidence suggesting that alcohol pricing policies and restrictions on hours/days of sale are associated with IPV outcomes. Knowledge about the impact of alcohol-related policies on IPV and violence in general is limited by several significant research gaps. Additional research is needed to assess the impact of alcohol policies on IPV and other forms of violence.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Alcohol Drinking Alcoholism Commerce Costs And Cost Analysis Databases, Factual Female Humans Intimate Partner Violence Male Risk Factors
• Source:
  J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 76(1):21-30
• Pubmed ID:
  25486390
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4770459
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  76
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2ac4740d0a8fbcf09de9e7e71d8956d51d1473fba16d54a090419277a865292e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38266/cdc_38266_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 166.48 KB ]